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Man gets probation for his role in 2007 drive-by shooting
The defendant spent 10 months under house arrest, his lawyer says.
YOUNGSTOWN — The driver of the car from which shots were fired, killing one 17-year-old and wounding another, in a drive-by shooting almost two years ago on the city’s North Side has been sentenced to two years’ probation on a reduced charge of obstructing justice.
Judge Lou A. D’Apolito imposed the sentence Wednesday on Robert Jackson, 20, of East Evergreen Avenue.
Jackson removed spent shell casings from the car after a passenger in the car, Deon Glenn, 20, of Glenwood Avenue, fatally shot Maressia Patterson and wounded Akeem Minor as they walked on Ford Avenue at 12:30 a.m. May 26, 2007.
The Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge warned Jackson that he’d send him to prison for five years if he violates the terms of his probation.
If Jackson moves to Chicago as planned, Illinois officials will monitor his probation, said Martin P. Desmond, assistant county prosecutor.
Judge D’Apolito sentenced Glenn last month to 35 years to life in prison after a jury convicted Glenn of murdering Patterson, of Upland Avenue, and wounding Minor, of Lauderdale Avenue, who were among a group of people Glenn shot at.
After the prosecutor reduced the aggravated-murder charge against Jackson to obstructing justice and dropped five attempted-murder counts and all firearm specifications against him, Jackson pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and testified against Glenn in Glenn’s jury trial.
Desmond said he made the plea deal with Jackson because there was no evidence that Jackson knew that Glenn had a gun on him or intended to shoot anyone.
“He’s not totally innocent. ... I want him to do some time [in prison]. I don’t want him to just walk away with a slap on the wrist,” Patterson’s mother, Rachel Wilkins of Youngstown, said of Jackson.
Defense Atty. J. Gerald Ingram cited Jackson’s favorable academic record at Youngstown State University, his employment history and letters speaking well of his character, and noted that Jackson’s prior brushes with the law consist only of traffic offenses.
Ingram also noted his client’s cooperation with the authorities and his having already spent 18 days in jail and 10 months on electronically monitored house arrest while awaiting disposition of this case. The Ohio Adult Parole Authority’s pre-sentence investigation recommended probation, Ingram added.
“What happened that night was a coincidence. What happened was this tragic event, and I didn’t take any role in the death of Maressia Patterson,” Jackson told the judge, adding his apology for removing the shell casings.
Witnesses told police six or seven shots were fired from the car between Norwood and Crandall avenues and that the shooting was linked to an online feud between groups at Chaney High School and the former Rayen School.
Judge D’Apolito said he hoped Jackson had learned from this incident a lesson about “choosing friends more carefully.”
milliken@vindy.com